The Wind and the Wings of Hogwarts

However, reality seemed to disappoint him.

Scott tried increasing his magical output, but the "severed arm bone" remained unresponsive.

In his hands, it was like a Muggle artifact completely incompatible with magic.

Scott lay back down on the bed and closed his eyes.

He began to try using his own methods of practicing Transfiguration, slowly sensing the item with his magic.

However, by the time dinner began, his attempts still seemed to have made no progress.

But Scott put the matter aside for the time being and focused on enjoying dinner with his family.

After a joyful dinner, the family of three sat on the sofa by the fireplace and chatted.

Emilia looked at Scott with some concern. "Scott, Michael told me before dinner that you had a minor altercation with someone at school."

“It’s alright, Millie.” Scott smiled at her. “You know, people from different classes don’t get along. That’s a characteristic of England, and wizards are no exception.”

"No, I have read the books you bought."

Emilia looked at him disapprovingly.

“A History of Modern Magic, Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century, and Hogwarts: A History of the School”.

Upon hearing this, Scott knew he couldn't fool them anymore.

“I understand that the British magical world was at war more than a decade ago,” Emilia continued.

At this moment, she shed her image as a housewife and looked like a professor.

"I always thought, just like in the books, that the Dark Lord was defeated... whether or not it was because of a 'boy who survived'..."

Her tone was somewhat disdainful.

Clearly, she couldn't understand why the wizards needed to rely on the power of an infant to win a war.

"But without a doubt, it was your principal who represented the side that won the war."

Then, her tone became questioning again.

"I don't understand why the children of those followers of the Dark Lord, those racists, who were on the losing side of the war, still can't keep a low profile?"

Scott had no choice but to patiently explain the current situation in the magical world to her.

“Those pure-blood families don’t actually have an easy time,” he said.

"Not to mention those already in prison, even those who cunningly escaped imprisonment will face round after round of endless searches by the Ministry of Magic."

“But those kids are still very arrogant at school,” Emilia said, frowning.

"Precisely because they are just children, and Hogwarts is just a school."

Scott spread his hands.

"The headmaster always treated all students equally, except for the 'boy who survived the ordeal', of course."

He tried to say nice things to reassure Emilia.

"Those students from pure-blood families all have well-behaved elders. As for the students themselves, if they cross the line with their arrogant behavior, the professors will punish them."

Emilia was still very dissatisfied. "They affected you! And you're just an innocent student. No one in our family participated in that damned wizarding war!"

“Don’t worry, Mom, I can handle it,” he said with a smile. “Didn’t Michael tell you that I beat a Slytherin seventh grader at the Duel Club event?”

"This feels awful, darling."

Emilia took Scott's hand.

"This reminds me of when I was fifteen."

She glared at Michael fiercely.

"That year, I watched your father drop out of school and hang out with those bad kids on the street!"

Michael looked up from the newspaper and blinked innocently.

"You are probably facing more danger now than he was back then, dear."

Emilia looked at Scott with concern once again.

"But I can't bring myself to say... the words that would make you give up..."

She said, her voice trembling slightly.

"I know you really like magic."

Scott was at a loss and could only look to Michael for help.

[You're still too green, kid.]

Michael gave him a look, then walked over and put his arm around Amelia.

“Don’t worry, darling.” He gently patted Emilia’s back.

"Get out of the way."

Emilia pushed him away and stood up.

She seemed to have regained her composure.

"Maybe you need a good gun, son."

She turned and walked toward the stairs.

“That was a coming-of-age gift from my father. I was originally planning to give it to you after you turned 18.”

After she finished speaking, she ran upstairs.

Scott stared in disbelief at her retreating figure.

“May I ask, Mike?” he asked hesitantly.

Michael asked, "What?"

Scott turned to look at him. "Tell me, what did my maternal grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather do?"

……

Chapter 099 The Secret Hidden by Mother's Family

Michael glanced upstairs and said with a smile, "Millie's family? You'll probably have to ask her yourself."

He avoided answering Scott's question and sat back down on the sofa, picking up the newspaper to continue reading.

“…I asked her when I was a child, but she said her whole family was dead,” Scott said helplessly. “I could tell she was lying.”

Michael simply shrugged, indicating that he couldn't help.

Scott, observing his reaction, abandoned the idea of ​​seeking answers from him.

At the same time, he began to think.

First of all, he still knew Emilia's surname before she got married—Hill.

Also, Michael just mentioned "family".

But the surname Hill is actually quite common in England, and Scott couldn't think of any answer.

Just then, Emilia rushed downstairs in a flurry of activity.

She handed Scott a silver and black pistol.

"The HKP7 pistol is one of the most representative pistols produced by the German company HK in the 70s."

She introduced it as if it were her own treasure.

"It uses 9mm Parabellum ammunition with a muzzle velocity of 350 meters per second, comes with a 13-round magazine, and has an effective range of 50 meters. It has low recoil, good safety, and good accuracy."

Scott expertly gripped the pistol and examined it. "So, all those years ago you got me into the shooting club just for this day?"

"I'm sorry, darling."

Emilia gave a guilty smile.

"Although your father is now focused on the antique shop business, your background... may still cause you some trouble."

Scott looked at her. "As far as I know, the trouble left over from Grandfather's side isn't really trouble. It seems the real trouble comes from the Hill family?"

“Just maybe,” Emilia emphasized.

"Okay, maybe."

Scott disassembled the pistol and found that Emilia had kept it in very good condition, with a full magazine of bullets still inside.

He looked up and asked, "Then can you tell me about your family, dear mother?"

Emilia felt even more guilty, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Perhaps you've heard of the name Billy Hill?"

Scott racked his brains and realized he seemed to vaguely recognize the name, but couldn't quite place it.

He turned to look at Michael.

Michael glanced at Amelia first, and only spoke after seeing her nod.

"Billy Hill, the biggest gang boss in London's underworld in the 50s and 60s, once fought with Jack Spot for territory and won."

He glanced at Emilia again and added, "It is said that he was born into a family of thieves, with more than twenty family members all being gang members."

“…I remember now.” Scott found it somewhat unbelievable. “I’ve read about his deeds.”

“That was my grandfather,” Emilia said somewhat shyly. “Later, he retired from public life and went into seclusion in Spain. I returned to England after my grandfather passed away when I was ten years old.”

"So, your grandfather stopped doing it a long time ago? So, where did all this trouble come from after all these years?" Scott asked, puzzled.

Emilia gave an awkward laugh. "My grandfather took something with him when he left London."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "What?"

“A map,” Emilia said.

"A map? A treasure map?" Scott asked curiously.

“No,” Emilia said, “it’s the Reis map.”

“The Reiss map?” Scott asked. “The one that depicted Antarctica back in 1513?”